The Daily Money: All mortgages are not created equal

Good morning! It’s Daniel de Visé with your Daily Money.

Mortgage applications from borrowers of color are denied more frequently than those from white borrowers, Andrea Riquier reports.

In 2023, 27.2% of Black applicants were denied a mortgage, more than double the 13.4% denial rate for white borrowers. That's a full 10 percentage points higher than the rate for borrowers of all races, according to the analysis from the Urban Institute’s Housing Finance Policy Center.

The data echo other inequities in the housing market.

My utility bill is paying for that?!

Millions of Americans receive their monthly utility bill and just assume it’s high because it’s been sweltering outside.

That’s only part of the story, Medora Lee reports. Customers are also paying for everything from your utility company’s trade association fees, to lobbying efforts to increase your rates, consumer advocates say. In the worst instances, according to legal allegations, you’ve also paid bribes to politicians.

Here's how much these fees might add to your bill.

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Now that your 2023 taxes are paid, consider this sobering thought: The average American pays $524,625 in taxes in their lifetime, according to a recent study.

The report also ranks states on lifetime tax costs. And if you live in the Northeast, you may want to sit down for this:

New Jersey residents pay $987,117 in lifetime taxes, the analysis found, the highest tab in the nation. Washington, D.C., comes second, with a lifetime tax burden of $884,820. Connecticut and Massachusetts are third and fourth, at $855,307 and $816,700.

Here's the full report.

About The Daily Money

Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer and financial news from USA TODAY, breaking down complex events, providing the TLDR version, and explaining how everything from Fed rate changes to bankruptcies impacts you.

Daniel de Visé covers personal finance for USA Today.